Honda previews electric SUV at Beijing motor show

The Honda e:concept will rival Nissan’s Ariya. Photos: Honda

Honda has revealed its SUV e:concept, a preview of the second model in its electric vehicle range, at the Beijing motor show.

The Honda SUV e:concept is a concept model indicating the direction of a future mass-production model of the Honda brand’s first electric vehicle (EV) to be introduced in China, said the brand at the reveal.

Also at the stand was Honda’s were a wide variety of mass-production models, including the CR-V PHEV, which will be the first vehicle introduced in China equipped with a plug-in hybrid system.

Honda’s first global EV, the e, was launched earlier this year in Europe but won’t be sold in China.

The Honda CR-V plug-in will be sold in China.

Honda has yet to reveal details of the SUV e:concept’s powertrain, but it is likely to expand on the single electric motor fitted to the E, generating more than that car’s 112kW.

The SUV is also expected to improve on the e’s relatively small range of 180km coming more in line with the 482km range of rivals such as Nissan’s Ariya.

Only one image has been released so far, but the SUV e:concept bears little resemblance to the Honda e.

New Zealand won’t get the Honda e as it is for Europe and Japan only, but the electric SUV would be ideal for Downunder.